Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND:The prolongation in QT interval typically observed following cardiac arrest is considered to be multifactorial and induced by external triggers such as hypothermia therapy and exposure to antiarrhythmic medications. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the corrected QT interval (QTc) dynamics in the first 10 days following cardiac arrest with respect to the etiology of arrest, hypothermia and QT prolonging medications. METHODS:We enrolled 104 adult survivors of cardiac arrest, where daily ECG was available for at least 3 days. We followed their QT and QRS intervals for the first 10 days of hospitalization. We used both Bazett and Fridericia formulas to correct for heart rate. For patients with QRS < 120 we analyzed the QTc interval (n = 90) and for patients with QRS > 120 ms we analyzed the JTc (n = 104) vs. including only the narrow QRS samples (n = 89). We stratified patients by 3 groups: (1) presence of ischemic heart disease (IHD) (2) treatment with hypothermia protocol, and (3) treatment with QTc prolonging medications. Additionally, genetic information obtained during hospitalization was analyzed. RESULTS:QTc and JTc intervals were significantly prolonged in the first 6 days. Maximal QTc/JTc prolongation was observed in day 2 (QTcB = 497 ± 55). There were no differences in daily QTc/JTc and QRS intervals in the first 2 days post arrest between patients with or without hypothermia induction but such difference. All subgroups demonstrated significantly prolonged QTc/JTc interval regardless of the presence of IHD, hypothermia protocol or QTc prolonging medication exposure. Our results were consistent for both Bazetts' and Frediricia correction and for any QRS duration. Prolongation of the JTcB beyond 382 ms after day 3 predicted sustained QTc/JTc prolongation beyond day 6 with an ROC of 0.78. CONCLUSIONS:QTc/JTc interval is significantly and independently prolonged post SCA, regardless of known QT prolonging triggers. Normalization of the QTc post cardiac arrest should be expected only after day 6 of hospitalization. Assessment of the QTc for adjudication of the etiology of arrest or for monitoring the effect of QT prolonging medications may be unreliable.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in worldwide morbidity at unprecedented scale. Troponin elevation is a frequent laboratory finding in hospitalized patients with the disease, and may reflect direct vascular injury or non-specific supply-demand imbalance. In this work, we assessed the correlation between different ranges of Troponin elevation, Electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities, and mortality. Methods: We retrospectively studied 204 consecutive patients hospitalized at NYU Langone Health with COVID-19. Serial ECG tracings were evaluated in conjunction with laboratory data including Troponin. Mortality was analyzed in respect to the degree of Troponin elevation and the presence of ECG changes including ST elevation, ST depression or T wave inversion. Results: Mortality increased in parallel with increase in Troponin elevation groups and reached 60% when Troponin was >1 ng/ml. In patients with mild Troponin rise (0.05-1.00 ng/ml) the presence of ECG abnormality and particularly T wave inversions resulted in significantly greater mortality. Conclusion: ECG repolarization abnormalities may represent a marker of clinical severity in patients with mild elevation in Troponin values. This finding can be used to enhance risk stratification in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES/OBJECTIVE:This study sought to analyze high-frequency catheter excursion in relation to lesion quality markers in 20 consecutive patients undergoing first-time radiofrequency (RF) ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). BACKGROUND:Ablation therapy for AF requires the delivery of durable lesions. The extent to which lesion sequence, catheter spatial stability, and anatomic location influence lesion formation during RF ablation of AF is not well understood. METHODS:Three-dimensional spatial excursion of the ablation catheter sampled at 60 Hz during pre-specified pairs of RF lesions was extracted from the CARTO3 System (Biosense Webster Inc., Irvine, California) and analyzed by using custom-developed MATLAB software (MathWorks, Natick, Massachusetts) to define precise catheter spatial stability during RF ablation. Ablation parameters including bipolar electrogram amplitude reduction, impedance decline and transmurality-associated unipolar electrogram (TUE) as evidence of lesion transmurality during lesion placement were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS:We collected 437,760 position data points during lesion placement. Ablation catheter spatial stability and lesion formation parameters varied considerably by anatomic location. Lesions placed immediately had similar bipolar electrogram amplitude reduction, smaller impedance decline, but higher likelihood of achieving TUE compared to delayed lesions. Greater catheter spatial stability correlated with lesser impedance decline. CONCLUSIONS:Lesion sequence, ablation catheter spatial stability, and anatomic location are important modifiers of RF lesion formation. Lesions placed immediately are more likely to exhibit TUE. Greater ablation catheter stability is associated with lesser impedance decline but greater likelihood of TUE.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:The prospective, multicenter SMART SF trial demonstrated the acute safety and effectiveness of the 56-hole porous tip irrigated contact force (CF) catheter for drug-refractory paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) ablation with a low primary adverse event rate (2.5%), leading to FDA approval of the catheter. Here, we are reporting the long-term effectiveness and safety results that have not yet been reported. METHODS:Ablations were performed using the 56-hole porous tip irrigated CF catheter guided by the 3D mapping system stability module. The primary effectiveness endpoint was freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmia (including atrial fibrillation, atrial tachycardia, and/or atrial flutter), based on electrocardiographic data at 12 months. Atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence occurring 3 months post procedure, acute procedural failures such as lack of entrance block confirmation of all PVs, and undergoing repeat procedure for atrial fibrillation in the evaluation period (91 to 365 days post the initial ablation procedure) were considered to be effectiveness failures. RESULTS:Seventy-eight patients (age 64.8 ± 9.7 years; male 52.6%; Caucasian 96.2%) participated in the 12-month effectiveness evaluation. Mean follow-up time was 373.5 ± 45.4 days. The Kaplan-Meier estimate of freedom from 12-month atrial tachyarrhythmia was 74.9%. Two procedure-related pericardial effusion events were reported at 92 and 180 days post procedure. There were no pulmonary vein stenosis complications or deaths reported through the 12-month follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS:The SMART SF 12-month follow-up evaluation corroborates the early safety and effectiveness success previously reported for PAF ablation with STSF.

Conducted energy weapon (commonly known as TASER) discharge in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators is known to cause electromagnetic interference and inappropriate ventricular fibrillation sensing without delivery of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators therapy during conducted energy weapon application. We report the first known case of conducted energy weapon discharge resulting in inappropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillators therapy. (Level of Difficulty: Beginner.).

Implantable loop recorders (ILRs) can be a valuable tool in monitoring patients with inherited arrhythmia. This paper reports on a family with long QT syndrome (type 2 [LQT2]) in which a pseudopolymorphic wide complex tachycardia detected by ILR was ultimately diagnosed as a supraventricular aberrant rhythm, facilitated by noncompliance with beta-blocker therapy. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.).

OBJECTIVE:To compare multiple-procedure catheter ablation outcomes of a stepwise approach versus left atrial posterior wall isolation (LA PWI) in patients undergoing non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (NPAF) ablation. BACKGROUND:Unfavorable outcomes for stepwise ablation of NPAF in large clinical trials may be attributable to pro-arrhythmic effects of incomplete ablation lines. It is unknown if a more extensive initial ablation strategy results in improved outcomes following multiple ablation procedures. METHODS:222 consecutive patients with NPAF underwent first-time ablation using a contact-force sensing ablation catheter utilizing either a stepwise (Group 1, n=111) or LA PWI (Group 2, n=111) approach. The duration of follow-up was 36 months. The primary endpoint was freedom from atrial arrhythmia >30s. Secondary endpoints were freedom from persistent arrhythmia, repeat ablation, and recurrent arrhythmia after repeat ablation. RESULTS:There was similar freedom from atrial arrhythmias after index ablation for both stepwise and LA PWI groups at 36 months (60% vs. 69%, p=0.1). The stepwise group was more likely to present with persistent recurrent arrhythmia (29% vs 14%, p=0.005) and more likely to undergo second catheter ablation (32% vs. 12%, p<0.001) compared to LA PWI patients. Recurrent arrhythmia after repeat ablation was more likely in the stepwise group compared to the LA PWI group (15% vs 4%, p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS:Compared to a stepwise approach, LA PWI for patients with NPAF resulted in a similar incidence of any atrial arrhythmia, lower incidence of persistent arrhythmia, and fewer repeat ablations. Results for repeat ablation were not improved with a more extensive initial approach. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Background/Introduction Accelerometer (ACC)-based AV synchronous pacing by tracking atrial activity is feasible using a leadless ventricular pacemaker. Patients may experience variable AV conduction (AVC) and/or atrial arrhythmias during the lifetime of their device. ACC-based AV synchronous pacing should facilitate AVC and pace appropriately in those two common rhythms.
Purpose(s): To characterize the behavior of ACC-based AV synchronous pacing algorithms during paroxysmal AV block (AVB) and atrial arrhythmias.
Method(s): The MARVEL2 (Micra Atrial tRacking using a Ventricular accELerometer) was a 5-hour acute study to assess the efficacy of atrial tracking with a temporarily downloaded algorithm into a Micra leadless pacemaker. Patients with a history of AVB were eligible for inclusion. The MARVEL2 algorithm included a mode-switching algorithm that switched between VDD and VVI-40 depending upon AVC status. The AVC algorithm requires 2 ventricular paces (VP) at 40 bpm out of 4 pacing cycles to switch to VDD.
Result(s): Overall, 75 patients (age 77.5 +/- 11.8 years, 40% female, median time from Micra implant 9.7 months) from 12 centers worldwide were enrolled. During study procedures, 40 patients (53%) had normal sinus rhythm with complete AVB, 18 (24%) had 1:1 AVC, 5 (7%) had varying AVC status, 8 (11%) had atrial arrhythmias, and 2 other rhythms. Two patients with complete AVB had the AVC mode switch feature disabled due to an idioventricular rate >40 bpm. Among the 40 subjects with a predominant 3rd degree AVB and normal sinus function the median %VP was 99.9% compared to 0.2% among those with 1:1 AVC (Figure). In the patients with 1:1 AVC, there were 64 opportunities to AVC mode switch with 48 switching to VDI-40. In the other 16 cases (2 patients) the mode remained VDD due to sinus bradycardia varying between 40-45 bpm. High %VP was observed in 2 patients with 1:1 AVC and sinus bradycardia <40 bpm. The AVC mode switch minimized %VP (<1%) in patients with PR intervals > 300 ms (N = 2). Among patients with varying AVC, the algorithm appropriately switched to VDD when the ventricular rate was paced at 40 bpm. During infrequent AVB or AF with ventricular response >40 bpm, VVI-40 mode was maintained. In patients with AF, the ACC signal was of low amplitude and there was infrequent sensing, resulting in VP at the lower rate (50 bpm). In the one patient with atrial flutter, the ACC was intermittently detected, resulting in VP at 67 bpm (IQR 66-67 bpm). Conclusion(s) The mode switching algorithm in the MARVEL2 reduced %VP in patients with 1:1 AVC and appropriately switched to VDD during complete AVB. If greater AV synchrony or rate support is required, disabling the AVC algorithm may be appropriate for low grade AVB or idioventricu-lar rhythms. In the presence of atrial arrhythmias, the algorithm paced near the lower rate